Cade 1500 S2/P Build

[Featherweight]

Very cool. I'm setting up a new tank and might have to move everything from the rs250. Looks like your move has gone pretty well... You just reused the rock and water from the old system? Did you add new rock as well?

 

[Hardy_Reef]

I went a little wild with some macro photography. The system is nearly full-GHL now. In total I have the Mitras LX7s, Mitras LB3s, Ion Director, KH Director, Maxi Doser, etc. I hope y'all enjoy the update.

 

[Hardy_Reef]

 

[Hardy_Reef]

This update is coming in a little quicker than the others have in the past:

Due to the availability of the components, the cost and how often I have to refill/mix the Fauna Balling Light system, I decided to bite the bullet and delve into calcium reactors. (Disclaimer: I'd recommend Fauna Marin's Balling Light to anyone and I did not have any issues with it while using the system)

Buy once, cry once came to mind. I ordered a Deltec TwinTech CRTT-1500 from Top Shelf Aquatics along with the other things necessary to get a CaRx running. To try and thwart the depressed pH from running a CaRx in a well-insulated home in FL, I also opted to add an AvastMarine K1 Kalkwasser stirrer.

Currently, the K1 is being fed 4mL/minute of RODI to trickle saturated kalkwasser into the system. The TwinTech is dispensing 5L of effluent/day with the recirculation pump running at 50%.

I reached a pH peak of 8.24 the day the K1 was installed. I'm targeting an alkalinity between 7 and 8 dKH, with the last KHD test reading 7.2 dKH. I still have some fine tuning ahead, but so far so good!

 

[Hardy_Reef]

Just a quick update. The system is on autopilot for the most part. The CaRx/Kalkwasser stirrer hybrid approach is keeping pH betwren 8.0-8.3. Alkalinity, Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium have also been rock solid steady.

I lost my male Swallowtail Angel to something. One moment he was swimming around, eating and enjoying his place near the top of the hierarchy, the next he was suffering in the corner of the tank. Bummer.

In the wake of this, I found a Blonde Naso Tang who was in need of care; he's done a complete 180 from a sunken rough looking specimen to a fat healthy tang to match the rest of the group. I also sourced a Zebra Swallowtail Angelfish (who is showing more of a male's coloration) and he is establishing himself.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

So sorry about you losing the swalllowtail, but at least you got a Naso!

 

[Hardy_Reef]

So sorry about you losing the swalllowtail, but at least you got a Naso!

Thank you, he has settled in pretty nicely; as has the new Zebra Swallowtail I sourced from @TopShelfAquatics.

 

[Hardy_Reef]

Excuse the mess, but here are some overall progress pictures of the system.

 

[Hardy_Reef]

Well, I kind of have an unexpected update. After some recommendations from reefing friends of mine and seeing the lights in person, I decided to jump on the @ATI North America Straton G2 Pro wagon. In all, it took me less than 3 hours to uninstall my old Mitras LX7s and LB3s, install the Stratons and get them programmed. I'm currently using presets pre-loaded into the lights set at 50% intensity. They ramp up in a blue-heavy "Fluorescent+" before transitioning to a balanced "Deep Sea", then a white-heavy "LPS/SPS+. After the peak, the lights run through the same program in reverse with the photoperiod ending in the "Fluorescent+".

I'm still learning the ins and outs for the app, but it is relatively straightforward. The corals didn't seem to mind the change with consumption not taking a hit through the remainder of the day.

Side note: I was running my 3 Mitras LX7s (each 190W, I believe) and 2 Mitras LB3s (100W per) at 80% intensity which was drawing a calculated ~600W in comparison to these Straton 204s running at 50% (I'm still working out what the lights need to be set at, but this is a start. The app was calculating the PAR at 30cm to be over 700 and 45cm to around 450-500).

 

[Hardy_Reef]

I just now realized I never replied to you and I apologize for that. When I set this new tank up I did introduce new rock along with the established rock of the old system, along with using both new and old saltwater. Sorry for the delayed response!

Very cool. I'm setting up a new tank and might have to move everything from the rs250. Looks like your move has gone pretty well... You just reused the rock and water from the old system? Did you add new rock as well?

 

[Featherweight]

Really cool lights

 

[Hardy_Reef]

Really cool lights

Thank you!